HCC Center for Entrepreneurship hosts two-day Women's Bootcamp
Oct 25, 2018
The Houston Community College Entrepreneurial Initiatives/Center for Entrepreneurship at Southeast Campus hosted nearly 350 women at the recent Women’s Entrepreneurship Bootcamp in both English and Spanish.
HCC’s first annual Women’s Bootcamp has been slated as the ultimate entrepreneurial platform for women-owned start-ups and women leaders with business ideas. The English version of the event was held on Thursday, Oct. 18 with a separate event completely in Spanish held the next day on Friday, Oct. 19. The purpose of the bootcamp was to help and support women who want to start a business. The speakers were all entrepreneurs who shared their business experiences and expertise to guide women through the needed business elements: the business plan, marketing, finance and legal issues regarding the business structure.
A dynamic lineup of speakers at the English boot-camp included Catherine Landry, President of Northrop Rice Aviation Training Solutions, Liz Lara Carreno, Outreach Director & Faculty, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, and Deborah Lawson, Attorney at Law and Board Secretary of LGBT Chamber of Commerce. In addition, Candice Moody, Vice President Banking Officer at BBVA Compass, Luz Elena Rivers, CEO, Amera Solutions & Goldman Sachs, Celina Enamorado, CEO, Business Logix, and Lindsey Brantley, Founder& CEO, Camellia Alise also shared tips and information. These successful and professional entrepreneurs gave the participants practical and useful information. The attendees’ also had an opportunity to ask questions on the spot and the speakers were happy to oblige. According to Maya Durnovo, Chief Entrepreneurial Officer, “the day was filled with active involvement, sharing and enthusiasm as women were able to express their fears as well as excitement about starting a business. I was proud we could provide a lot of valuable information and resources”.
Networking was also a big part of the event and many of the women had the chance to network with each other over breakfast and lunch while also meeting community leaders like Councilwoman, Amanda Edwards, strategic partners such as SCORE, Silver Fox Advisors, SBA, East End Chamber of Commerce, Camara De Empresarios (ELH), ABC 13 Houston, Univision 45, Goldman Sachs, 10,000 Small Businesses, BBVA Compass, The Colombia Texas, Greater Houston, LGBT, Texas Workforce Commission, City of Houston, Lone Star Legal Aid, Modern Woodman, MBDA, LATINWE, NUKSTS, KW Memorial, Barker Ripley, and the President of Southeast College, Dr. Melissa Gonzalez. They took pictures and used social media to let other people know how exciting this event was by tweeting #LadyBossLife and #WeAreHCC. This wonderful event was designed by a team lead by Brenda Rios, Director, Entrepreneurial Initiatives and Community Outreach at Southeast College. Brenda Rios said “the attendees were so excited and inspired by this event that they want to organize a monthly club to help each other stay motivated in business." The ladies have now inspired Ms. Rios to develop more events like this in the future that also include Spanish only events as well.
